[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 40 (Monday, October 9, 2006)]
[Page 1725]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at George W. Bush Elementary School in Stockton

October 3, 2006

    The President. I want to thank Sylvia Ulmer, the principal of George 
W. Bush Elementary School, for welcoming me. It's such an honor, 
Sylvia--and Jack, thank you, sir--it's such an honor to have a school 
named after me. When I pulled in the parking lot and I saw George W. 
Bush Elementary, I couldn't think of a higher tribute to a person, and I 
thank you all and the citizens of this community for this honor and 
tribute. Frankly, I was a little emotional when I pulled in----
    Sylvia Ulmer. So am I. So am I.
    The President. I want to thank the teachers and the faculty here. I 
can't wait to tell Laura that I went into the Laura Bush Library and saw 
teachers working hard to teach kids how to read. It's just a blessing to 
be there.
    You know, being at this school reminds us, we have a special 
responsibility to protect our children. One of the most important jobs 
of those involved with schools and government is to make sure that 
children are safe. And Laura and I were saddened and deeply concerned, 
like a lot of other citizens around the country, about the school 
shootings that took place in Pennsylvania and Colorado and Wisconsin. We 
grieve with the parents, and we share the concerns of those who worry 
about safety in schools.
    Yesterday I instructed Attorney General Gonzales and Secretary of 
Education Margaret Spellings to convene a meeting next Tuesday, a 
meeting of leading experts and stakeholders to determine how best the 
Federal Government can help States and local governments improve school 
safety. Our schoolchildren should never fear their safety when then 
enter to a classroom. And, of course, the superintendent and principal 
know that.
    We also had a reminder of the need for people in positions of 
responsibility to uphold that responsibility when it comes to children, 
in the case of Congressman Mark Foley. I was dismayed and shocked to 
learn about Congressman Foley's unacceptable behavior. I was disgusted 
by the revelations and disappointed that he would violate the trust of 
the citizens who placed him in office.
    Families have every right to expect that when they send their 
children to be a congressional page in Washington, that those children 
will be safe. We have every right as citizens to expect people who hold 
higher office behave responsibly in that office. I fully support Speaker 
Hastert's call for an investigation by law enforcement into this matter. 
This investigation should be thorough and any violations of the law 
should be prosecuted.
    Now, I know Denny Hastert; I meet with him a lot. He is a father, 
teacher, coach, who cares about the children of this country. I know 
that he wants all the facts to come out, and he wants to ensure that 
these children up there on Capitol Hill are protected. I'm confident he 
will provide whatever leadership he can to law enforcement in this 
investigation.
    Again, I want to thank you for your hospitality. It's an honor to be 
here. Appreciate your time. God bless. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 10:28 a.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
Jack McLaughlin, superintendent, Stockton Unified School District.